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A study finds that surgeons specially trained to perform breast cancer surgeries can interpret a mammogram as good as a trained breast radiologist and they provide an excellent alternative to meet the shortage of radiologists.

The findings of the study, titled ‘Surgeon-Read Screening Mammography: An Analysis of 10 020 Examinations,’ was presented at the 11th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Breast Surgeons.

The objective of the study was to determine whether the reading performance of breast surgeons can be compared to that of mammography radiologists.

The prospective research involved 13 622 mammograms read at a dedicated, surgeon-run breast health centre between January 2003 and June 2009.

Mammograms were conducted according to conventional mammography guidelines by certified technicians on state of the art film-screen and from July 2006 on full-field digital equipment.

All the mammograms were double read by two experienced breast surgeons and the findings were catagorised according to BIRADS.

The study concluded that the findings of the breast surgeons were equivalent to that in organized national screening programs run by specialized breast radiologists in Europe and Australia. With fewer recalls, a lower biopsy rate with a higher malignancy rate of biopsy and a high cancer detection rate, they were better than highly skilled radiologists in the United States.

This study provide a first benchmark for surgeon-read screening mammography.

“These findings suggest that the ability to precisely analyze breast images is enhanced by both ongoing experience and specialized training,” comments Justus Apffelstaedt, MD, FCS (SA), Associate Professor of Surgery and Head: Breast Clinic, University of Stellenbosch, chief author of the study, who practices at the South African site. He added that, ‘Breast surgeons review large numbers of breast images as part of their ongoing treatment planning and delivery.  Now, this study shows that with appropriate training, they prove to be highly accurate primary mammography interpreters.’